BEWARE! DNC Convention and Pot Laws

[Psycho4Bud]

Police to enforce pot laws during Dem. convention

DENVER (AP) â?? Pot smokers who light up during the Democratic National Convention can expected to get busted under state laws, even though a voter-approved city ordinance makes small amounts of marijuana the "lowest law enforcement priority," Denver Police said Monday.
"We've always enforced the state statute," police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. "That was the law before the initiative and it's nothing new. I don't know why we'd relax any law."

Mason Tvert, leader of the group that sponsored the ordinance that discourages marijuana busts, said city officials are ignoring the will of the voters.

He said a community-based panel on marijuana enforcement will meet Wednesday to get updated figures on enforcement, but preliminary figures show arrests are rising, not declining.

Last year, the city prosecuted 1,600 cases. Tvert said based on current numbers, the city is on track to increase that to 1,900 this year, not counting any surge of arrests that might take place during the convention.

"We're concerned during the Democratic National Convention that they are going to use the law to cite people or detain them," Tvert said.

The initiative passed easily in November 2007, despite protests from city officials who said it was meaningless because state law takes precedence over city ordinances.

Tvert and his group successfully pushed a 2005 initiative to legalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana for adults over 21, but the move failed to blunt arrests because authorities continued to enforce state laws.

Tvert tried to pass an identical measure at the state level but was rebuffed by statewide voters.

City Council member Doug Linkhart, who sits on the marijuana enforcement panel, said he believes police have made pot possession a low priority and doesn't think there will be any problem during the convention.

"The ordinance says lowest priority, it doesn't say stop prosecuting. I'm not concerned police will get carried away. I want police to focus on what's important, and I expect they will," Linkhart said.
Police to enforce pot laws during Dem. convention - USATODAY.com

Wasn't it $50 million that Denver was allocated by the fed for security? I sure hope to hell that this isn't part of our tax dollars being spent.

Have a good one!:s4:

Psycho4Bud Reviewed by Psycho4Bud on 08-20-2008. BEWARE! DNC Convention and Pot Laws Police to enforce pot laws during Dem. convention DENVER (AP) â?? Pot smokers who light up during the Democratic National Convention can expected to get busted under state laws, even though a voter-approved city ordinance makes small amounts of marijuana the "lowest law enforcement priority," Denver Police said Monday. "We've always enforced the state statute," police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. "That was the law before the initiative and it's nothing new. I don't know why we'd relax any Rating: 5

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

You can bet that is part of the $50 million security fund P4B. But then it's not exactly a direct "anti-marijuana fund", just a policy to be enforced by already-present security personel. Nothing beyond what you could expect really; who could possibly get away with lighting up a joint at any Republican or Democratic convention?



btw, didn't Denver actually legalize weed in their city, not just make it a "low priority"? Not that a municipal law means much if anything regarding actual enfocement.

[thcbongman]

You can bet that is part of the $50 million security fund P4B. But then it's not exactly a direct "anti-marijuana fund", just a policy to be enforced by already-present security personel. Nothing beyond what you could expect really; who could possibly get away with lighting up a joint at any Republican or Democratic convention?



btw, didn't Denver actually legalize weed in their city, not just make it a "low priority"? Not that a municipal law means much if anything regarding actual enfocement.

Technically, but it's more figurehead than anything.

[veggii]

aren't laws just for us poor people ?? I keep hearing about cops/judges say they don't recognize our state mmj law !! wow i don't reconize any of thier then!! I live by mother natures laws their laws don't count in our world HA!

[ldg420]

I live in denver. We (denver residents) voted on and passed onto law some stupid ass initiative to make "possesion of marijuana" the denver police department's lowest priority. As nice as it sounds its just a bunch of bs that has one flaw.... The denver pd's obligated to follow colorado state law, not to mention federal.........:stoned:

[Reefer Rogue]

These situations where state and federal law trumps the initiative and direct will of the electorate disgusts me, yet doesn't suprise me.. Hypocritical legislators

[Psycho4Bud]

I just saw on the news the the Mayor of Denver is telling the police NOT to be busting marijuana smokers!!!! :thumbsup:

This could be a good show. Get stoned and then go into the convention to watch the freak show. :bonghit:

Have a good one!:s4:

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

I just saw on the news the the Mayor of Denver is telling the police NOT to be busting marijuana smokers!!!! :thumbsup:

This could be a good show. Get stoned and then go into the convention to watch the freak show. :bonghit:

Have a good one!:s4:

Sweet! I'd like to go there so I could ask Obama, in front of everybody, "Hey Barrack, since you're all about 'change", will your government start respecting state law and sovereignty and stop busting us pot-heads where it's legal?"


Now it just seems satirical when during the presidential inaguration they say "I solemnly swear to uphold the constitution..."

[flyingimam]

um, regardless of the location, time and/or event

federal law bans all marijuana possession/consumption on this land

so yeah, dont light up in public, period!
u just run a much higher risk doin so, regardless of where u do it [except for Amsterdam :P]

[Markass]

um, regardless of the location, time and/or event

federal law bans all marijuana possession/consumption on this land

so yeah, dont light up in public, period!
u just run a much higher risk doin so, regardless of where u do it [except for Amsterdam :P]

that's right, federalism is a principle of the past, sadly..